Donny Osmond, who plays Gaston in Disney's Broadway musical Beauty and the

Beast, celebrates his birthday on stage in New York City. During the curtain call at the

evening performance, "All My Children" and former Beauty and the Beast star Jacob Young surprises Osmond

with a birthday cake.

1971:

Executive Airlines (one of only two airlines with service to STOLport - Walt Disney

World's own airstrip) eliminates their Southern Region which includes service within

Florida. The following day they will file for bankruptcy. (Unfortunately this will be the beginning of the end for

the short-lived STOLport.)

1963:

William Lund (representing the Walt Disney Company) flies from California to

Tampa, Florida - rents a car and drives to Orlando. He checks into the Robert Meyer Motor Inn

to begin research for "Project Future" (a year-round theme park resort). His primary objective is to quietly

evaluate the location advantages offered by Ocala versus Orlando. Lund is working for the same California

consultant who had been instrumental in selecting Anaheim as the site for Disneyland.

(In 1968 Lund will marry Walt Disney's daughter, Sharon.)

1953:

Actor John Malkovich, co-star of Disney's 2010 release Secretariat, is born in

Christopher, Illinois. His Touchstone Pictures credits include The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and

Alive. (Malkovich has appeared in more than 70 motion pictures including The Killing Fields, Dangerous

Liaisons, Being John Malkovich and Changeling.)

1999:

Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida, Disney's first stage musical not based on an animated film, officially opens at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago. Based on Giuseppe Verdi's story of a tragic love triangle in which a Nubian princess is captured by an Egyptian warrior,

who falls in love with her instead of his betrothed Egyptian princes, Disney's production features 19 songs by

John and Rice. This is a newly revised version, as Elaborate Lives: The Legend of Aida had its world premiere

at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia back in 1998. (Aida will come to Broadway the following March.)

Péril takes place at Disneyland Park at Disneyland Paris. Attendees include special guest

George Lucas, Philippe Bourguignon (Chairman of Euro Disney SCA at this time) and adventurer Goofy! Based

on the Indiana Jones films, guests are taken on an adventure riding in a mining train through a lost temple.

Although opened since July 30, 1993, the attraction had been temporarily shut down due to technical difficulties.

2010:

It is reported that the Disney Dream is headed home! After nearly two years of construction, Meyer Werft, the ship’s builder, officially hands over the massive vessel to Disney in a traditional maritime ceremony aboard the ship in Bremerhaven, Germany. The Meyer Werft flag is lowered, and the Disney and Bahamian flags are raised, signifying the transfer’s completion. Plans have the ship departing Bremerhaven for

its transatlantic voyage to Port Canaveral on December 19 (and arriving in Florida, USA on January 4).

1960:

Jeff "Swampy" Marsh, co-creator of Disney Channel's Phineas and Ferb, is born

in Santa Monica, California. A television director, writer, producer, and storyboard artist, he and co-

creator Dan Povenmire conceived the series Phineas and Ferb, based on their similar experiences of childhood

summers spent outdoors.

Van Patten Disney credits:

Snowball Express (1972) … Mr. Carruthers

The Strongest Man in the World (1975) ... Harry Crumply

Gus (1976) … Cal Wilson

Freaky Friday (1976) ... Harold Jennings

The Shaggy D.A. (1976) ... Raymond

December 9

2013:

The Frozen soundtrack from Walt Disney Records is released. It will spend 33 weeks

in the top 5 on the Billboard 200 chart, including 13 weeks at No. 1.

2016:

Duck the Halls: A Mickey Mouse Christmas Special airs for the first time.

2008:

Nominees for the 14th Critics' Choice Awards are announced. Among the nominations:

-Best Picture: WALL-E

-Best Animated Feature: WALL-E and Bolt

-Best Song: "Down to Earth" (performed by Peter Gabriel) – WALL-E and "I Thought I Lost You" (performed by